San Juan Record Classifieds, Events, Businesses In Monticello, San Juan County, Utah

Jun 04, 2008 | 743 views | 0 | 34 | |

by Anna Thayn

“I think we are making a lot of progress,” Steve Young told the Monticello City Council at their May 28 recent meeting, when he spoke on behalf of the Victims of Mill Tailings Exposure.

Young told the council about a public meeting that will be held June 12 at Monticello High School. The meeting is sponsored by Utah Department of Health and will be attended by the Center for Disease Control, and the Department of Energy, as well as representatives from the offices of Senator Orin Hatch, Senator Robert Bennett and Congressman Jim Matheson.

The Utah Department of Health has confirmed that there is an elevated cancer rate in Monticello, and will review their findings. Young also reported that the State will do another survey including 174 more cases of cancer in people who moved from Monticello before being diagnosed.

Young said the Utah Department of Health has been very supportive and is very committed to this project. Young told the council they have received a $67,000 appropriation, that will come through the Utah Department of Health, and are working out how the funds will be disbursed. The funds will be used for preventative screening for the citizens of Monticello.

The VTME committee is working on another appropriation bill for $350,000 sponsored by Senator Orin Hatch. Senator Hatch has committed that he will hold the Department Of Energy responsible for what they have done to Monticello. Young thanked the City Council for all their hard work and support, especially the Mayor for all the time he has put in.

City Manager Lee reported that the city is in the process of receiving a $400,000 grant for the purpose of designing a new airport. They are also requesting a zone change for the new airport location. Lee reported that both items are moving along quickly.

According to Lee, the amount is not enough, as the design bid for the new airport is approximately $550,000. Because of this, they set the project up in four phases, with phase four being completed once another $150,000 grant is received, which is expected in 2009.

Lee stated that a replacement airport will cost between $7 and $10 million to build, and will be done with grants that are being received from the FAA and other sources.

Lee told the council that the FAA has indicated they may be prepared to move forward with the construction in the summer of 2010, with construction taking at least two seasons to complete. He pointed out that construction could begin as late as 2013 depending on the funding of grants.

Keith Clark approached the council regarding the road construction on Center Street. Clark said he was glad the project was moving along so quickly, but disappointed that they were never notified.

City Manager Myron Lee apologized for not getting the information out to the businesses that have already been affected. He told the council that they have prepared a flyer that will go out to businesses a week to two weeks prior to doing work in front of their business.

Lee also said that he has a schedule of where the work will be done, and the pattern that they will work in. He invited anyone interested to come and see the plans at the City Office.

It was pointed out that the construction company is not communicating with the businesses as they have told the City they would. Lee said he would make contact with the construction company again to find out why they are not communicating with businesses and talk about fixing the problem.

Mayor Doug Allen said that he was concerned that there have not been business access signs placed in front of each business in the construction zone. He asked City Manager Lee to look into it, and make sure that there is a sign placed in front of every business that is affected, everyday.

Allen also asked that the businesses be notified about when their parking lots and entrances will be repaired.

Stewart Gorie, Senior Center President, approached the council asking that a councilman attend a senior center luncheon at least once a quarter.

Gorie told the council that the Seniors have lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Noon. The council agreed that it would be a good idea. Councilman Scott Shakespeare volunteered to attend the next meeting.

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